Occupational Achievements by Sexual Orientation in the U.S.: Are There Differences Among Races?

This paper shows that the occupational sorting of racial-gender groups varies by sexual orientation. Except for Asians, women in same-sex couples are more evenly distributed across occupations than women in different-sex couples. Black and Hispanic men in same-sex couples are also less concentrated in occupations than their straight counterparts, while the pattern for Asian and white men is less conclusive. In addition, the analysis reveals that, except for black women (whose monetary losses associated with their sorting do not seem to be affected by sexual orientation), for the remaining female groups, the occupational achievements of lesbians are higher than those of their straight counterparts. The occupational attainments of gay men are also higher than those of straight men of the same race/ethnicity. However, when comparing workers having bachelor’s degrees with their peers in education, the gains of Asian lesbian and straight women associated with their occupational sorting almost disappear and white lesbian women no longer have gains. Asian and white gay men still have gains associated with their sorting, although lower than those of their straight counterparts. Black and Hispanic gay men do remain better off than their straight counterparts, although they have losses associated with their sorting. When comparing workers with a low educational level with their peers in education, the only groups with gains associated with their sorting are white straight and gay men, especially the former. Gay men are worse off than straight men of the same race/ethnicity, while lesbian women tend to have lower losses than their straight counterparts.